A Brain-Computer Interface May Give Unresponsive ICU Patients a Voice

A new study led by Jan Claassen, MD, FNCS, professor of neurology and chief of Critical Care and Hospitalist Neurology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, suggests it may be possible to develop technology that enables communication with unresponsive ICU patients who have brain injuries. Dr. Claassen has previously detected hidden consciousness in many such patients, and the new research points to the potential for tools that could help them convey their thoughts.

“Research in the past decade by us and others has shown that many patients with acute brain injury who appear to be in a coma actually have some level of preserved consciousness, even though they are unable to speak or move their hands or eyes to communicate,” said Dr. Claassen.

“Our brain-computer interface is only a first step, but it shows that, in principle, we could hopefully in the future give some of these patients a voice.”
 

Read the full story in the CUIMC Newsroom.